My Ultimate 65 Summer Bucket List Ideas

My favorite season is finally around the corner: the one where you can lounge on the beach, sand between your toes, ice cream melting under your tongue. It’s also festival season, bustling with lively bands, water cannons and fun.

And last but not least, it’s the time of year when you can relax around the bonfire without having to bundle up, tell spooky stories, or simply stargaze.

Yes, I’m talking about summer, so here’s my ultimate summer bucket list, packed with 65 fun, relaxing, and adventurous ideas!

Save it for later!

Bucket list?

I know that the term “bucket list” can have a pretty negative connotation, since it refers to something you should do before you die.

And even though I’m not always the most positive person in the room, for me, a bucket list is more about fulfilling dreams or things I’ve never done before, like trying something new. But it’s also more about the journey and experiences than just ticking boxes.

Oh, and confession time: my bucket list is also a reverse bucket list, as it includes things I’ve already done and would love to do again.

Without further ado, here’s my summer bucket list, or as I like to call it, “My playlist for a great summer”!

For adventurous souls

1. Try skydiving: soar high in the sky and get your adrenaline pumping as you experience freedom at 12000ft.
2. Enjoy white water rafting: because finding yourself in turbulent, roaring rapids on a simple inflatable raft sounds like both great fun and nice workout.
3. Get your scuba diving certification: if you’ve never seen the underwater world, you’ll be surprised at how calm and beautiful it is.
4. Experience zip lining: a harness and a cable, what could go wrong? At worst, you’ll probably get stuck in the middle of the course, which will allow you to appreciate the canopy even more.
5. Take a surfing lesson: being able to stand up on your own on a surfboard feels like such an accomplishment that I still remember the feeling, and achievements, no matter how small, should be celebrated.
6. Learn kite surfing.
7. Chase waterfalls.
8. Go on a helicopter ride.
9. Try parasailing: provided that the boat isn’t attacked by something like in Jurassic Park 3, of course.
10. Ride a roller coaster: although this one is a little lower on my list since I rewatched Final Destination 3.
11. Have a go at rock climbing.
12. Go hiking.
13. Hit the slopes and go skiing or snowboarding.

For cosmopolitans

14. Visit a museum: learn more about the city/country’s history and culture while enjoying the air conditioning, a must in summer.
15. Tour a local market.
16. Find as many art murals as possible.
17. Go on a guided or self-guided walking tour.
18. Attend a festival: summer is also synonymous with vibrant festivals, whether musical, cultural or fun. They’re also ideal if you want to discover traditions, experience the energetic atmosphere, and the food, of course.
19. Enjoy a day at the vintage fair.
20. Visit the various monuments the city has to offer.
21. Relax with a book in the park: what screams summer more than enjoying a good book on a shady park bench and losing yourself in an imaginary world.
22. Have a picnic.
23. Do some café hopping: you might find your next favorite spot or try that new drink that’s been on your list.
24. Take a day trip: you don’t have to go far, you can just take the train or bus and go somewhere you’ve never been before for the day.

For nature lovers

25. Take a bike ride along the coast.
26. Enjoy a night of stargazing: summer is often the best season if you like to admire the stars, as the weather is often clear and not as cold as during other seasons, so you can actually spend hours gazing at the night sky. And if you like guessing constellations and planets, check out the Star Walk app!
27. Visit a botanical garden.
28. Get cozy for an outdoor movie night.
29. Take a trip to a nearby lake: perfect if you like to swim in colder waters to cool off from the scorching temperatures.
30. Marvel at a fireworks display: there’s no age limit to be amazed by fireworks, and who says summer also says colorful fireworks.
31. Watch the sunset at the beach.
32. Go hiking at sunrise.
33. Rent a cabin in the middle of nowhere: escape into nature and experience a peaceful retreat away from the noise of city life.
34. Practice forest bathing.
35. Have fun doing beach activities: summer is the only time you can really enjoy the beach, so better make the most of these few months.
36. Go on a treasure hunt with geocaching.

For road trip enthusiasts

37. Take a scenic coastal drive.
38. Create a road trip playlist and listen to it.
39. Camp under the stars.
40. Have a BBQ outdoors: because we all know that summer means BBQ! There’s nothing quite like this time of year when everyone gathers around the grill to enjoy the food they’ve prepared together. The only downside: the smell of smoke that gets into my clothes and hair, but hey, for a barbecue, totally worth it!
41. Explore the national parks: into hiking and outdoor activities? Then a road trip to the national parks is the perfect choice for this summer!
42. Play travel games: who hasn’t played the observation game, the alphabet game, the license plate game, or other games during a road trip? And I’m not even mentioning singing your head off when your favorite song comes on the radio.
43. Gather around a bonfire and eat s’mores: a road trip isn’t really complete until you’ve lit a fire, enjoyed some snacks, and had fun around the blazing flames.
44. Stop and take pictures of all the fun/weird roadside attractions.

For foodies

45. Visit a vineyard.
46. Try local specialties: step out of your comfort zone and try something new, like silkworms, even if they look disgusting! You never know, you might actually like it, or not!
47. Take a cooking class.
48. Eat as much ice cream as you can.
49. Tour a brewery.
50. Visit a local farm: pick your own produce, learn new things, and support the community.
51. Go to a local apiary and learn how to extract honey.
52. Dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
53. Take a food tour when you travel: because locals know the real best spots, not just the touristy ones.
54. Host a themed dinner party.

For wellbeing advocates

55. Book a spa day.
56. Take part in a yoga retreat.
57. Opt for a slow travel day: wake up at 9-10am, read a book, walk to the local market to buy fresh produce, and enjoy your day however you like.
58. Try journaling.
59. Listen to a podcast: whether it’s fiction, comedy, news, culture…, choose something that won’t stress you out and will actually relax you.
60. Meditate.
61. Go on a digital detox: try not to use your phone for an entire day, and you’ll feel like a new person, trust me.
62. Take a craft class.
63. Catch some Z’s.
64. Embrace JOMO: or Joy Of Missing Out, much better than FOMO.
65. Do nothing: and don’t feel guilty about it!

What about you? What’s your “playlist for a great summer”? Let me know in the comments!

On a budget, but still want to go somewhere and do something special this summer? Why not go on a microadventure?

And for relaxing coastal getaway ideas, check out my other post here!